The Criminal Court on Wednesday issued a warrant for the arrest of Santika Pub operator Wisuk Setsawat, 50, for not attending the reading of an Appeals Court ruling in an 85-million-baht tax evasion case.
The defendant failed to show up at the court on Ratchadaphisek Road, Bangkok, for the second time, having also failed to attend the first scheduled reading on Sept 1, when his lawyer had told the court he had a severe headache.
Santika Pub in 2007 (Photo by Kitja Apichonrojarek)
On Wednesday his lawyer told the court that his client was again ill and sought another postponement of the reading.
The Criminal Court viewed this as trying to avoid hearing the judgement. The bench issued a warrant for Mr Wisuk's arrest and rescheduled the hearing for Nov 2.
On April 25, 2014, the Criminal Court handed down a one-year prison term to Mr Wisuk, also known as Sia Khao, for failing to pay excise tax estimated at 85.4 million baht due from the operation of the pub from Nov 13, 2003 to Dec 31, 2008. He appealed and was released on bail.
Santika Pub, on Ekamai Road, was the scene of a huge fire around midnight on New Year's Eve, 2008, that killed 67 people and injured another 103. Many survivors were left maimed and their lives ruined.
In a separate case, the Criminal Court sentenced Mr Wisuk to three years in prison in 2011 over the blaze, which was started by fireworks ignited in front of a stage inside the pub. The fireworks were designed to be used outdoors. Lit inside the pub, they hit the ceiling and curtains, and caused the fire.
In October 2013, the Appeals Court acquitted him of all charges relating to the fire fatalities and injuries. The court ruled that he was not directly negligent and did not cause the fire.
Debris from the burnt out Santika Pub being cleared away in 2009. (Bangkok Post file photo)